Israel is contemplating a preemptive strike to deter Iran if it uncovers irrefutable evidence that Tehran is planning an attack, according to Hebrew media reports.
The discussion came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a crucial meeting with Israel’s top security officials on Sunday evening.
The meeting, attended by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, was convened in response to growing concerns over potential attacks from Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah. This follows the recent assassinations of Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, with Iran blaming Israel for Haniyeh’s death and promising retaliation.
Security reports indicate uncertainty about Iran’s exact intentions, prompting a broad discussion on potential responses. The option of a preemptive strike was examined, but officials emphasized that any such action would only be considered if Israel received definitive intelligence confirming an imminent attack from Tehran.
Jerusalem would need to verify its own intelligence against US assessments before deciding on a preemptive strike, according to the report. Even with matching intelligence, Israel might still opt against launching a preemptive attack.
On Sunday, it was also reported that the US remains uncertain about the potential nature of an Iranian attack. The US believes Tehran has not yet made a final decision and is likely still in the process of coordinating with its proxies.